After last night’s event with the Cookstown branch of the OSC, it was on to the Mid-Ulster Sports Arena this morning for the final sessions of the CITC Soccer Schools tour of Ireland.

The 160 children who took part in today’s courses and enjoyed the facilities at the impressive complex took the total of young players that have received free, professional coaching from CITC this week to 440 – over a hundred more than we had first planned for!

It has truly been an inspiring week. To come to a part of the world where traditionally Manchester City hasn’t harboured a particularly huge fanbase down the years and to witness how it is growing and leave knowing that the legacy of the events of the past few days have really made a difference to the communities and lives of the people we have met is a real testament to the fantastic work of City In The Community.

Having been a City fan my entire life and to now be in a position which allows me to experience weeks like this and converse with and share the passion of our supporters young and old, makes me feel incredibly fortunate and proud.

 

Special thanks to the rest of the tour party; Patrick Vieira, Paul Lake, Sarah McBriar, Gavin Makel, Damaris Treasure, Paul McCoy, Craig Bell, Mike Dixon, and Craig and Carl from G4S security for all the banter, fun and memories.

And thank you for reading my tour diary. I hope it’s provided an insight into the tremendous hard work going on behind the scenes at the club and you feel as proud as I do writing it.

Chris Nield